The Albanese Labor Government will introduce legislation to establish Fee-Free TAFE as an enduring feature of the national vocational education and training system, funding 100,000 Fee-Free TAFE places a year from 2027.
This builds on the Albanese Government partnership with states and territories to deliver 180,000 Fee-Free TAFE places in 2023; 300,000 places over three years from 2024; and agreements being finalised for a further 20,000 construction and housing Fee-Free places.
Fee-Free TAFE started in January 2023 to 30 June 2024 and has exceeded all expectations – with more than 508,000 enrolments in courses in priority areas, including:
- 131,000 in care – including disability and aged care
- 48,900 in digital and tech
- 35,000 in construction
- 35,500 in early childhood education and care
Fee-Free TAFE is particularly benefitting Australians from priority cohorts, with 170,000 young Australians, 124,000 job seekers and 30,000 First Nations Australians enrolling in the program.
Of all places, six in 10 have been taken up by women, and one in three in regional and remote Australia.
Legislating enduring funding for Fee-Free TAFE builds on the Government’s strong record on skills and training, including:
- A landmark $30 billion five-year National Skills Agreement with all states and territories.
- Putting TAFE at the heart of the Vocational Education and Training sector with states and territories, growing our investment in Fee-Free TAFE and continuing to build a national network of TAFE Centres of Excellence.
- Investing an additional $870 million per financial year between 2022-23 and 2025-26, compared to expenditure committed to by the previous Government in the March 2022-23 Budget.
Territorians' can check out the courses available through Charles Darwin University on their website here: Fee-Free TAFE courses | Charles Darwin University
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
“We promised Fee-Free TAFE for Australians – and now it is here to stay.
“My Government is putting TAFE back at the centre of vocational education and training, with our investment in Fee-Free TAFE having already seen over 500,000 Australians participating in priority areas to help fix skills shortages.
“We want to make sure Australians can go on to have well-paid, secure jobs – and Fee-Free TAFE creates those opportunities for individuals as well as investing in the future of our country.
“This is what drives and defines my Government – helping Australians now, whilst also building for the future.”
